The Challenger's Return: Rebirth of the Rainbow Mage

Otto's eyes opened to a familiar scene.

Hundreds of challengers mulled around a large hall crested with glorious statues of challengers past.

The only difference was that Otto could make out many challengers surrounding a large fountain of water in the middle.

Without a hint of decorum, the challengers bent down to take large gulps of the water within.

Apparently, despite only passing the [Basic] difficulty, they had already felt the desert's effects…

Otto had returned to the [Challenger's Pantheon], the Basic difficulty room of the [Area 1 Exit Pavilion].

This time, he was on the second floor of the pavilion, ironically playing host to folks exiting…the second floor.

Once again, Otto's body was bathed in golden light as he stepped towards the exit of the room, drawing curious gazes from wide-eyed onlookers.

But right after he caught his bearings, Otto heard a loud shout from his side.

"Ott…TOTO!!!"

He glanced around.

Who else would it be other than his brother rushing towards him at rapid speed?

Otto calmly side-stepped his brother's tackle-hug, leaving Jason to trip and fall on the hard floor.

Jason grumbled as he stood up.

"I was just happy to see you, jeez."

Otto ignored the rising sense of relief in his chest as he scrutinized his brother closely.

Thankfully, Jason appeared strong and healthy, seemingly unharmed from his [Tutorial] ordeal.

Otto's eyes held masked concern.

He took a few seconds to draw an array formation that blocked out sound around the two of them.

Then, he asked in a low voice,

"How was it?"

Jason just looked at him like he was a lunatic before rolling his eyes exaggeratedly,

"Damn Otto, can the first thing we say to each other not be about, I don't know, business?"

Otto stared blankly before rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.

He sighed and stepped forward to hug Jason, who was still, much to Otto's chagrin, taller than him.

"Fine. I'm glad that you're okay."

"Yep. I'm grrreat!! Hehe."

Jason shot Otto a thumbs-up. But he couldn't help but shoot his brother a few secret glances, hinting him to ask more about his rewards.

Seeing Jason's rising excitement as if he had some good news to share, Otto's eyes twinkled.

His tone was 'caring,'

"Then seeing as you don't want to talk more now, we'll just have to speak when we get back."

"Whaaat!? Nooo, come ON bro, lemme just tell you now. Listen, I got this amaz..."

But Otto remained firm in his interruption,

"Ah! We're out of time. We should go pick up the three stooges."

…It was said that Jason's wails could be heard throughout that hall for years to come…

***********************************************************

Outside of the hall, a familiar throng of recruiters were waiting.

They saw Otto and Jason, but, unlike last time, the recruiters descended on them like vultures, completely unwilling to let go.

"My Jadex Team offers full support and a small salary for all your needs during a floor run!"

"Come to Krakas Yellow! 100 challengers and growing!"

"We are the Viking Clan specialized for the high sea, but we also offer exceptional rewards for clearing land floors!"

The shouts and screams were never-ending and formed a kind of extreme backdrop cacophony as Otto slowly whisked Jason out of the hall, skirting around and evading all the recruiters.

"Why are they so aggressive?"

Jason felt like they resembled some of the particularly bloodthirsty paparazzi back on Earth.

The ones who would stalk celebrities all the way back to their houses to take secret pictures of them.

This wasn't possible at all in the [Tower], and these folks were ostensibly coming to recruit them, but…

Otto's brows were also subtly furrowed.

All that recruitment was very obviously pointed at the two of them.

How did these recruiters know who they were, though?

As far as Otto knew, his name was absolutely not known to the public, whatsoever.

Had someone leaked something?

And was it on purpose, targeted at him in specific?

Seems he'd have to do some information gathering during his training this time.

But the surprises were not yet over.

As soon as Otto reached the small crowd where high end recruiters were gathered, hoping for a challenger to exit the [Extreme] room for the second floor, he spied a man in a gray formal suit watching him from the corner of his eye.

It was normal to look at a newcomer.

But this man's eyes didn't leave them once from when they'd entered the hall.

Otto couldn't detect any malicious intent from the man, but such unwarranted scrutiny couldn't help but make him feel a little uneasy.

He whispered to Jason, voice low but firm,

"Stay here."

Jason just nodded and watched, half curious, half worried, as Otto approached the man.

Otto noticed that the man was also a human. His hair was brown, his face rounded with congenial features.

There were deep bags under his eyes, and he looked slightly surprised by Otto's approach.

Otto extended his hand and asked bluntly,

"Hello, my name is Toto."

"Do you have some business with me?"

The man's eyes widened ever so slightly.

He squeezed out a smile and returned the gesture, his voice exuding awkwardness,

"I'm not sure. I was only told to keep an eye on you. Give me one second."

He pulled out a communicator and suddenly Otto was unable to hear what was said.

Otto looked at the communicator and noticed a rune directly below a small sigil carved in black.

He nodded in understanding.

'A Federation employee.'

Then, his eyes narrowed.

What was this about?

The small government worker who he'd saved from those mysterious assassins?

'Hmm.'

The man soon ended the communication.

His voice returned to Otto's ears.

"Err, I know this is a bit abrupt, but my boss wants to meet with you. Do you have a bit of time now?"

Otto thought for a moment before he shook his head.

"I have to pick up my team members here today…as I'm sure you are already aware."

"How about we set a meeting for tomorrow?"

Then, Otto added ruthlessly,

"He can treat me to a meal, at…how about Dille's?"

The most expensive restaurant in the entirety of Area 1…

Otto smirked while the gray-suited man broke out into nervous sweat.

"I'm s-sure that would be fine."

His voice cut out again as he repeated the information to his boss.

Otto could only see the man's posture hunching further and further and guessed that he was probably being berated.

Otto abruptly felt a little sad that he missed the conversation…

At that moment, three figures appeared near the beginning of the hallway.

All three braced themselves for the pandemonium that was about to appear as they exited.

To their surprise, however, the room remained rather calmer this time around.

The recruiters acted as if they couldn't see the three figures who had just passed the [Extreme] difficulty on the 2nd floor.

Though, a closer inspection revealed that their eyes carried hints of envy and dashes of longing as they looked at the three.

Only, one specific person towards the front of the crowd ensured that they did not try anything untoward.

Otto's eyes twinkled as he saw who it was.

'She really came herself.'

'She puts a lot of stock into the kids.'

The woman with whom he'd signed a contract, then, without her knowledge, immediately broke it.

Drennel, who'd already provided three A1 suits, one for each of the kids, along with a myriad of other herbs, ingredients and array materials for Otto to support them.

Who was betting on their help, Otto assumed, once the apocalypse broke out.

Now, she was playing her part as their 'managing' organization, fending off the hyenas to make sure they arrived safely to the [Challenger's Pavilion].

At the moment, her face was beaming.

How could it not be?

Drennel was already fully prepared for her investment in these three bear little fruit.

Even if they'd passed the [Extreme] difficulty mission on the first floor, it was not so easy to pass successive missions month after month.

Drennel projected that only one of them would last to the seventh floor on [Extreme] difficulty.

Still, it was a worthy investment, for after that, it would certainly be more likely for the failed challengers to pass the [Very Hard] difficulty at least, which still made for a strong challenger and a core member of her faction.

And even should only one make it to the seventh floor, one with such power could absolutely make a world of difference in the fight to come.

"Greetings, Julia, Elliott."

Drennel forcefully brought her gaze over to Jeremy to remind herself of his existence.

Her smile tensed slightly,

"Jeremy. Congratulations on clearing the second floor! I hope you each found the suits to your liking?"

A small pause descended onto the room.

Both Julia and Jeremy cast their gazes to Elliott, who only belatedly remembered that he was the one in charge of speaking at things like this.

Ramesthes was the one who had assigned him: Julia was slightly too rough, while Jeremy still hadn't fully learned how to filter his words.

"Of course, ma'am."

Elliott's eyes were earnest, his smile genuine.

"Thank you for all your support so far."

"We really look forward to working more with you."

Then, he glanced at the other two and sent a quick eye-signal.

All three bowed as one.

Meanwhile, Otto almost burst out laughing: Elliott was using the same expression and even tone of 'deep sincerity' Otto himself wore whenever he conned people.

Drennel's smile widened as she noticed the respect and lack of arrogance in his tone.

"I as well. I actually came today in hopes that any of you might be persuaded to live full time in our facilities?"

"Our accommodations are top-notch, and the training you'd receive would be leagues better than…"

Drennel was rather long-winded as she gushed about the benefits of living at her faction's training facility.

Jeremy stealthily picked his nose, Julia tried her best to maintain a neutral expression as Elliott continued to nod politely.

"I'm sorry, Miss Drennel, but our manager…"

Otto waved excitedly to the three of them on cue, looking positively tickled that the three of them had made it out.

Jeremy almost burst out in uproarious laughter as he saw Otto's 'delighted' expression, but quickly stifled it as Otto shot him a murderous glare.

Drennel hid the slight souring of her expression.

It was written in the contract that they could live with Toto, after all.

It was just…she thought she'd be able to win them over rather easily as long as she offered some wealth.

They were kids, in the end, not yet so wise to the ways of the world.

Had she been mistaken?

'Toto…'

Drennel's eyes flashed.

Her thoughts were unknown.

Otto, as if he didn't notice the vague tension in the air after Drennel was rejected, immediately brought Jason over and came to grab the three.

"Let's go home."

All three nodded obediently.

Drennel could only watch as their figures disappeared from the hall.

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